Counties Encouraged to Participate in National #StopOnRed2021 Week to Promote Road Safety

Logo of National Stop on Red Week 2021 Created by the Federal Highway Administration, National Stop on Red Week aims to educate drivers about the dangers of red-light running and to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes. This year the observance runs from August 1 to August 7.

Red-light running causes countless injuries and fatalities every year, with a large number of those deaths being innocent pedestrians, cyclists and passengers in vehicles hit by the red-light runner. National Stop on Red Week reminds drivers to always stop on red.

Intersection safety is a serious topic of concern for communities. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that motorists in urban areas are more likely to be injured in crashes involving red-light running than in any other type of crash. Further, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that one in three Americans know someone who has been injured or killed in a red-light running crash.

In 2020, 42,060 lives were lost on U.S. roads, an 8% increase from 2019 and despite vehicles traveling 13% less. In 2019, 846 people were killed and an estimated 143,000 were injured in crashes involving red-light running. IIHS found that about half of red-light running crash deaths involve pedestrians, cyclists and occupants in vehicles struck by the red-light runners.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads encourages local governments to use innovative technologies such as red-light safety cameras at dangerous intersections. “Red-light cameras save lives. They are designed to change bad driving behavior and help reduce the collisions caused by red-light runners,” said Melissa Wandall, NCSR President. “We need every safety tool and everyone to work together in order to cut down the insatiable heartache on our roadways.”

If your local government wishes to help promote National Stop on Red Week, the National Coalition for Safer Roads has made available a toolkit, including graphics and social media messaging.

At the upcoming Summer MACo conference, an expert panel will discuss how counties can address the dangers caused by distracted driving through better public policy, increased driver education, new technology, and careful enforcement.

The “Eyes on the Road: Vehicles and Vision Zero” session will be held Friday, August 20, 2021 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.

The MACo Summer Conference will be held August 18-21 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This year’s theme is “Resilient. Responsive…Ready.”

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: